Bharat Ratna is India’s highest Civilian award for extraordinary work in the development of literature, art and science, or in recognition of public service of the highest order. Bharat Ratna award has been conferred by the President of India on January 26th of every year since 1954.

The actual award is designed in the shape of peepal leaf with Bharat Ratna inscribed in Devanagari script in the sun figure.The reverse side of the decoration Satyameva Jeyata has been written in Hindi with an inscription of state emblem.The emblem, the sun and the rim are of platinum and the inscripti0ns are in burnished bronze.

The awards were discontinued in 1977 by the Janata government but were revived by the Congress government in 1980. After revived of these awards, Mother Teresa was the first recipient.

No civilian awards in 1993 and 1994. Mr Staya Pal Anand challenged before the MP High Court, the process of ‘conferment of the Bharat Ratna to Rajiv Gandhi posthumously’. Mr Anand succeeded in obtaining an ex-parte stay against the government in August 1992. The government announced thet no Bharat Ratna or Padma awards would be given till the constitutionality of these awards was decided by the courts. Therefore, these awards were not conferred in 1993 and 1994.